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(FootballStL) - Retired NFL head coach Tony Dungy made big news this week when he told the Tampa Bay Tribune he would not have selected Rams defensive end Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in history.

“I wouldn’t have taken him,” Dungy told the paper. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of that. It’s not going to be totally smooth…things will happen.”

Well, in the Rams first practice of training camp – which was just for rookies since veterans don’t hit the field until Friday – Sam had quite the response to the former veteran head coach.

“Thank God he’s not the St. Louis Rams coach,” Sam quipped.

But it’s all good between the two.

“I have great respect for Coach Dungy. Like everyone in America, everyone is entitled to their own opinions,” Sam said.

The former Mizzou defensive end is battling for a spot on the Rams 53-man roster and as a 7thround pick certainly has his work cut out for him. Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes and Eugene Sims appear to be locks. Should the Rams elect to keep a fifth end on the roster, Sam will compete with a few others for that job.